For some, it’s hard to comprehend that Coatesville’s Mike Boykin packs all that muscle into the allotted weight. Unfortunately for many of his opponents, he does, and he used that strength to bully his way into the quarterfinal round of the Class AAA PIAA individual tournament Thursday.

Boykin and Avon Grove’s Edgar Garcia (106 pounds) both survived the first of three days and will compete in the quarterfinals at the Giant Center in Hershey today, starting at 1:30 p.m. The second round of consolations will follow at 3 p.m.

Great Valley’s Shane Ruhnke (138) and Downingtown East’s Sean Snodgrass (285) advanced to today the hard way, shaking off tough opening losses with wins in the consolation brackets. Conestoga’s Logan Kerin (160) was eliminated after two losses. By the end of today, those who will be placing and those who won’t will be determined.

Boykin, fresh off his first loss of the season to Boyertown’s Jordan Wood in the Southeast Regional final, wrestled with a chip on his shoulder against Canon McMillan’s Alex Campbell, a returning fifth-place medalist.

“I reset my mind,” Boykin said. “It brought me back down to earth. I think my head was getting a little too big and I think the loss was good for me. It was tough at first, but it makes me want to work harder.”

The Coatesville junior scored a takedown in the first period, another and four near-fall points in the second, and a third in the final frame for a 13-3 victory. A year ago, Boykin was in the same position, a win away from placing. He feels like he learned a lesson as a sophomore, but his task in the quarters -- two-time state champ Thomas Haines of Solanco -- is a daunting one.

“I learned not to coast,” Boykin said. “Take every chance you get. ... I see (the match against Haines) as another match. Go out and have fun with it.”

Garcia was up against returning state qualifier Zach Elvin of Central Dauphin. The Red Devil junior was the better wrestler on his feet and took Evlin down in the first for a quick lead.

“It was very nice to get a takedown early,” Garcia said. “If I get the first takedown I feel much better than when I get taken down. It’s a good boost.”

After a scoreless second, Garcia took Elvin down again in the third to seal a 5-3 victory. His quarters matchup will be much tougher with Greater Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher, a favorite to win the weight.

“Placing is possible now,” Garcia said. “I have to bring my best to wrestle with the best.”

Ruhnke bounced back from a disappointing first-round loss to Parkland’s Josh Ortman with a convincing 9-2 win over Greater Latrobe’s Jake Shaffer. Ruhnke was strong on his feet all day, taking Ortman down for the first points before being pinned in the second. Against Shaffer, Ruhnke was in control the whole time and will face the loser of Big Spring’s Chad Wickard and Franklin Regional’s Josh Maruca.

“It was heartbreaking,” Ruhnke said of the Ortman loss. “I guess it was jitters and nerves. This is like a crazy stage. I’ve never been on a stage like this. Now I’m more comfortable.

“It’s gonna take a lot of hard work, but I’m not giving up no matter how down I am.”

Snodgrass was on his way to an upset over Southcentral champ Joey Goodhart of Hempfield before running out of steam in the third period and giving up a two-point lead for a 6-4 loss. In the consolations, Snodgrass took another early lead, and after falling behind for a bit in the second, was able to score the deciding takedown with 30 seconds left and eventually cap it off with a fall.

“The first guy was tough and I got a little tired at the end there,” Snodgrass said. “He got a single on me and I got caught and it was my fault. The second guy, I’m just happy I won and made it to the second day.”

Kerin went up against Southwest champ Zack Zavatsky of Greater Latrobe in the first round and was pinned in the second. In the consolations, Kerin fell to a major decision against Mitchell Ramsey of Mechanicsburg. He finished his season with a record of 22-5, and a career record of 114-31.